KEY WEST -- Going for a fourth straight world title in the turbine class this year and a possible top gun championship is important to the Miss Geico racing team. However, according to driver Scott Begovich, just as valuable to the whole team is gaining the respect of the fans during the 29th annual Key West World Championship or any event they enter.

"I like to treat the fans like the way I was treated when I was growing up," said Begovich. "I hope to see the fans come out, cheer us on and stop by and say hello in the pits. "

Begovich's interest in the sport began in the early 70s when his father started racing powerboats. After graduating from college, his goal in life became to make enough money to buy a race boat. He first purchased a smaller vessel, then in 2000 he bought his first offshore powerboat and has been competing at the top level ever since.

However, even as he has moved up through the years, Begovich said he has never forgotten his roots and will always be an admirer of the sport he has grown to love.

"First and foremost I'm a fan and grew up a fan of offshore racing," said Begovich. "I was the kid that rode my bike out to the pit and washed a boat just so I could ride in the parade. So, I know what it's like to be that kid and I know the future of our sport depends on the fans' enjoyment. The way our sport is going to grow and progress is if that little kids comes up, he can touch and feel the boat and can talk to us. We are very very fan friendly and fan orientated, because we have been there."

It is those ideals for a driver raised in Point Pleasant, N.J. who grew up studying the Benihana Grand Prix -- now in its 39th year of existence -- that helps makes the Miss Geico team such a fan favorite.

"It was a whole different world back then," Begovich said of the race he grew up watching. "Nowadays there's poker run boats that are just as impressive as the race boats. Life was simpler back then, so any type of race boat was completely exotic, so when they came in town people came out by the hundreds of thousands to see these awesome machines. Now it's an every day occurrence on South Florida water ways, so yes the crowds are still big and they come out to watch the races, but it's not the way it was back in the 70s. That's why we want to welcome the fans the way we do."

Capable of running 200 mph, the Miss Geico rarely dips under the triple digit mark on the speedometer -- running about 160 mph on the straightaways, taking corners at 130 mph and exiting them at a mere 90 mph -- it is truly a neon flash that excites the spectators. But for Begovich, racing under the neon paint and Miss Geico logo for the past three years, the team driver said he already knows and appreciates the strong support the team receives, and loves to awe the fans any way possible.

"Geico is the greatest sponsors any team could have, in any sport, in my opinion," said Begovich. "They are so supportive, and you have a built in 40,000 person fan base with the employees. When we are on the course we want everyone to see Miss Geico and nothing else. That's why we have the neon colors."

During those three seasons under the Geico flag, the team has claimed a World Championship in the Turbine Class. With a possible fourth straight title on the line, Begovich said his team has put in countless hours of work in order to insure the streak continues.

"I think we can if we don't make any mistakes," Begovich said about the Miss Geico team going for its fourth straight world title in the Turbine Class. "We've been testing and practicing and that's what it takes to win down here, consistency and practicing."

However, with success comes demand, and the now resident of Jupiter said that their neon boat certainly has a target on its back and the pressure to perform mounts each race, but that is the reason he enjoys what he does.

"This is the greatest job in the world," said the Miss Geico driver, who has been racing with the same team for the past five seasons even before the sponsorship. "But we are expected to win and anything else is a failure. That doesn't come from Geico, that comes from what we expect as a team."

After making the trip to race in Key West for the past decade, Begovich said it's certainly one place he likes to bring his team each year. But more importantly, he always hopes to put on a good show for the fans.

"I've been coming here for 10 years and it's like coming home," said Begovich. "Key West is an absolutely beautiful town, with great people and just a great place to be. In Key West the whole entire town really gets behind the race and makes everyone really feel welcomed. From the mayor, on down to the person at the checkout counter, they are all excited to see us here and that makes us feel good."

Part of the reason Begovich said he believes there will be good racing at the this year's world championships is because the Miss Geico team finished in second place in the national championship, behind Aqua Mania, which he said has been performing well all year long. After breaking down during the first day of races last year and missing out on the top gun award -- given to the team for the fastest average speed on all three days -- the driver also said this year is about staying consistent all three races, so that they go home with a pair of titles.

"We've had some great battles with these guys," Begovich said about the Aqua Mania boat. "But also we are racing everybody for the top gun. There are some fast piston powered boats that are all capable of running the same speed as us, so to come away with the top gun is our No. 1 goal. If we win our world championships we will not be upset, but at some level if we don't get top gun we will definitely be disappointed."

As for the course at the southern tip of the island, Begovich also said that just adds to the excitement of what makes the annual Key West races so special.

"It's awesome," he said. "It's such a great World Championship, because it has the aspect of every type of water we race in all season long all wrapped up in one course. It's got sharp turns, fast turns, clam water and rough water.

"You run the whole year in setting up to win the World Championships. Whether they are here or somewhere else, you want to run in the World Championships, but there is no other World Championship like the one in Key West. Everything pales in reference to Key West."

But in the end, if they leave Key West with or without a top gun or world championship, Begovich said hopefully the fans have a good time watching and if there is the next generation of kids that fall in love with the sport the way he did when he was a child, then it was well worth the trip for the Miss Geico team.

"I hope (the fans) get to see some exciting head to head racing and they will," said Begovich. "They always do in Key West. This is a great spot to come out and watch as we come by at 160 miles per hour, 10 feet off the sea wall."

jwcooke@keysnews.com